Christmas tree kit



June 12, 1951 L. c. CLEMONS CHRISTMAS TREE KIT Filed June 14, 1947 INVENTOR.

,0 TTOENEY IIIIIIIHE Patented June 12, 1951 UNITED STATES ?ATENT OFFICE CHRISTMAS TREE KIT I Leslie (hClemons, Dayton, Ohio Application June 14, 1947, Serial No. 754,779

' Claims. (01. 206-16) This invention relates to a Christmas tree kit, and the main object of the invention is to provide such a kit which serves during the Christmas season as a stand for the Christmas tree and at other times as a container in which the Christmas tree accessories may be stored.

A further object of the invention is to pro.- vide such a kit which whenfolded forms a compact container which is easily handled and stored, and when extended provides a symmetric floor covering surrounding the Christmas tree.

A further object of the invention is to provide such a container in which the accessories maybe stored in a compact convenient arrangement and fragile accessories will be protected from damage.

A further object of the invention is to provide such a kit which may be quickly and easily extended or folded without the use of tools.

. A further object of the invention is to provide sucha kit which is of'simpleinexpensive construction. N 2

. Other objects of the invention may appear. as the device is described in detail.

' In the accompanying drawings Fig. 1 is a plan view ofthe kit in its extended position; Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the kit in its folded" or containe'r'forming position; Fig. 3 is a section taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. l, with'the kit in its folded position, and partly broken away; Fig.4 is a section'taken on the line 4-4 of Fig l; and Fig. 5 is a 'detail view of the releasable device for securing the kit in its folded or container forming position. f

' In these drawings I have illustrated one em bodiment of my invention, but it is to'be understoodthat the kit as a whole, as well as the severa'l'parts thereof, may take various forms without departing from the spirit of the invention. The kit comprises, a base which constitutes the bottom wall of the container, side walls and'end walls connected with the respective edges of the bottom wall and movable to extended positions or to folded positions, and a top wall having means whereby it may be releasably secured to the end walls to retain the side and end walls in their upright"container. forming positions. The walls may be formed of any suitable material, such as plywood or sheet metal. Preferably the bottom wall is formed of wood of substantial thickness, and the other walls are formed of sheet metal.

In the arrangement. here shown the bottom wall 6 is rectangular in form and of a length substantially greater than its width. The side walls I. are..hing ed at their lower edges to the adjacent lateral edges of the bottom wall,; the arrangement being such that the side walls may be. moved to upright positions or to horizontal positions substantially in the plane of the bottom wall The end walls 8 are likewise hinged tothe respective end edges of the bottom wall and are movable either to upright positions or to horizontal positions in the plane of the bottom and side walls. The "top wall comprises two parts 9 which are hinged to the outer or upp r edges of the respective side walls and are movable to positions either transverse to the planes of the side walls orin the planes of the side walls \vhenthe latter are in their extended positions. When the side and end walls are in their folded or container forming positions they are retainedinthose positions by securing the two parts of the top'wall to the end walls. The .two parts of the top wall may be releasably secured to the end wall in any. suitable manner. As here shown attaching devices l0, preferablylof flexible material such as leather, are secured to the ends of both parts ot the top wall and their free end portions bent downwardly and secured to the adjacent end. wall, as by turn buttons lz' which extend through slots I l in the devices I2. Any 'snitable means may be provided for carr ing the case and, in the present instanoej, a handle it is secured to each part of the top wall." Means are provided forsupporting the ChristQ mas tree in an upright positionon the bottom wall or base 6. This manspreferably comprises a sta'ndfwhich, in the present instance, includes three clamping members, eachlclampin'g member comprising a bracket vl' l' rigidly 'secure't'lito the bottom wall, as by screws l5, and having mounted thereon a clamping'screw l6 provided at its inner end with an elongate head I1; and at its outer end with asknob or handle- H? by which it may be rotated. 'When thekit has been extended. the stem or trunklS- of the Christmas tree is placed between the clamping heads l1 and the several screws actuatedto causethe heads to firmly grip the stem of thetree; and support the same in an upright position; I

When the kit is in its extended position it is desirable that it should be symmetric in form so as to constitut a floor covering surrounding the tree. For this ptlpose the sidewalls .1 are pro-. vided at each end thereof with extensions 20 which are movable outwardly beyond the respective ends of the side walls to posit-ions in which theouter edges thereof are substantially in line with the outer edges of thecorrespond-ing end walls. The extensions-are ofapproximatel the same width as the side walls and are here shown as slidably mounted on the respective end portions of the side walls. Preferably each side wall is provided adjacent each lateral edge thereof with a portion, such as a flange 2 I, extending inwardly above the same and forming a guideway. Eachextension is slidably mounted in the guideways thus formed and the two extensions are of such length that when moved inwardly to permit'the folding of the kit the outer ends thereof do not extend beyond the respective ends of the side walls. The two parts 9 of the top wall are likewise provided with extensions 22 slidably mounted in guideways similar to the guideways for the side walls, that is each lateral edge of each part of the top wall is provided with a longitudinal flange 23 forming a guideway to receive the adjacent edge of the extension. When thes extensions are in their extended'positions the outeredges thereof are in line with the outer edges of theside walls and the outer edges of the end walls. To prevent-the extensions, of either the top wall or the side walls, from being entirely withdrawn from their guideways each extension may be provided adjacentits inner end with a projection 24, preferably having a rounded end, which is adapted to extend into a recessor aperture-25 in the outer end portion of the flange 23 and thus interrupt the outward movement of the extension. The flanges being yieldable, inward pressure on the extension will force the projection 24 out of the aperture and permit the movement of the extension to its retracted position.

Means are also provided for supporting certain of the Christmas tree accessories in convenient positions and'for reventing damage to the fragileaccessories while in storage. For this purpose lamp bulb supporting devices are carried by the respective side walls and are here shown as a plurality of series of sockets 26, the sockets of each series being preferably formed by attaching a' strip of'flexible material to the wall at spaced intervals. In the present arrangement the series of sockets are mounted on the extensions 20 of the side walls so that they will not interfere with the retracting of the extensions when the kit is to'be folded. Means are also provided for supporting'the lamp cord in a looped condition on one of the walls and, in the present instance,

each end wall 8 is provided with an arm 21 adapted to extend inwardly therefrom and support the lamptc'ordwhen the end walls are in their upright positions. Preferably the arms 21 are pivotally' mounted on the respective end walls at 28, so that they may be moved into positions parallel with the end walls when the latter are in their extended positions.

The bottom wall 5 is provided with electric sockets 29 by which the lamp cords may be connected with a lighting circuit, there being, in the present instance, two such sockets connected one with the other so that two or more lamp cords may be connected with the same wall outlet.

It will thus be apparent that when the Christmas tree is to be erected the kit may be'placed on the floor and the several walls thereof moved to their extended positions, as shown in Fig. 1, in'which positions they form a square floor covering. The 'tree' is then placed between the clamping members and the latter tightened to firmly grip the'tree and hold it in an upright position. The lamp cords and lamps are removed'from their supporting devices and the tree decorated. When the tree is to 'be removed the decorations are,of course, removed therefrom and the tree withdrawn from the stand, and the walls of the kit then moved to container forming positions. The lamp bulbs are inserted in the sockets, the lamp cords hung on the arms or hooks 21 and the other accessories packed within the container in any suitable manner. The top wall of the container is then secured in its closed position and the kit is ready for storage.

While I have shown and described one embodimerit of my invention, I wish it to be understood that I do not desire to be limited to the details thereof as various modifications may occur to a person skilled in the art.

Having'now fully described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A Christmas tree kit comprising a bottom Wall and normally upright side walls and end walls, said side and end walls bein movable to positions substantially in the plane of said bottom wall, parts slidably mounted on the inner sides of the respective side wall for movement to positions beyond the ends thereof when said side walls are in the plane of said bottom wall, means carried by said parts for supporting lamp bulbs thereon, andmeans on said bottom wall for supporting a Christmas tree thereon.

2. A Christmas tree-kit comprising a bottom wall and normally upright side walls and end walls, said side and end wallsbeing movable to positions'substantially in the plane of said bottom wall, parts slidably mounted on the inner sides of the respective sidewalls for movement to positions beyond the ends thereof when said side walls are in the plane of said bottom wall, means carried by said parts for supporting lamp bulbs thereon, a lamp cord supporting device mounted on one of said end walls for movement into and out of cord supporting position, and means on said bottom wall for supporting'a Christmas tree thereon.

3. A Christmas tree kit comprising a bottom wall, a Christmas tree stand on said bottom wall, side walls and end wallshinged to the respective edgesof said bottom wall, each side wall havin extensions slidably mounted on the inner side thereof and movable beyond the respective ends thereof, lamp bulb supporting devices carried by at least one of said extensions, a foldable lamp cord supporting device mounted on the inner side of at least oneo-f said end walls, a top wall having two parts hinged respectively to the upper edges of said side walls, and means'for releasably securing said parts of said top wall to said en walls.

4. A Christmas tree kit comprising a container to receive Christmas tree accessorie and includ; ing a bottom wall, side and end walls connected with respective edges of said bottom wall and movable to positions'substantially in the plane of the latter, each-side wall having extensions movable outwardly beyond the respective ends thereof, and a top wall including two parts connected with the upper edges of the respective side walls and movable to positions substantially in the plane of the respective side walls, each part of said top wall having extensions movable outwardly beyond the respective ends thereof, and means for supporting a Christmas tree in upright position on said bottom wall.

5. A Christmas tree kit comprising a bottom wall, upright side and end walls hinged to'the respective edges of said bottom wall and movable to positions substantially in the plane of said bottom wall, extensible members slidably mount- REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

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UN'I'IED STATES PATENTS Number 7 Name Date Selling Dec. 17, 1872 Piper 1 Feb. 11, 1902 Zelenak July 20, 1915 Reinhart et a1 Jan. 20, 1925 Roberts Dec. 6, 1932 Bechtel Oct. 15, 1940 Borah Nov. 2'7, 1945 Carpenter, Sr Mar. 25, 1947 

